How Do I Fish Safely Around Ice in Late Winter?
A conservative late-winter ice-fishing safety guide for beginners, covering unstable-ice warning signs, condition checks, essential gear, and when to turn back.
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Hooked For The Weekend
Fishing tips, tackle talk, and stories about the ones that got away.
Caleb MercerHi I’m Caleb, a recreational angler who would rather spend a quiet morning by the water than just about anywhere else. I write about practical fishing techniques, dependable gear, and the lessons I’ve learned through years of tangled lines, missed strikes, and the occasional fish worth bragging about.
Recent articles
View archiveHow Do I Fish a Weed Edge Without Losing Every Lure?
Ways to select weed-friendly rigs, control retrieve depth, choose casting angles, and clear vegetation efficiently.
Read articleHow Do I Fish a Tidal Creek for Redfish From Shore?
A practical shore-fishing plan for finding and catching redfish in tidal creeks, with guidance on tide stages, high-percentage shoreline features, positioning, presentations, and fish care.
Read articleHow Can I Fish a New Reservoir Without Electronics?
A practical shore and small-boat approach to finding productive water on an unfamiliar reservoir using maps, visible clues, wind, access, and seasonal patterns rather than fish-finding electronics.
Read articleThe First Trout I Lost on a Tiny Creek
A reflective small-stream trout piece for beginner fly and bait anglers, focused on slowing down during the landing process and building deliberate habits on Appalachian creeks.
Read articleHow Can I Find Summer Trout in a Small Stream?
A practical streamside guide to finding trout in small Northeastern and Appalachian streams during summer by focusing on shade, cold inputs, oxygenated water, and low-disturbance approaches.
Read articleHow Can I Find River Smallmouth in Low Water?
A practical guide to locating river smallmouth bass when low water concentrates fish around depth, shade, current breaks, and isolated cover.
Read articleDo You Need a Dedicated Rod for Finesse Fishing?
A practical guide to deciding whether a dedicated finesse rod will improve your presentations or simply overlap with the rods you already own.
Read articleDo You Need a Dedicated Reel for Fishing in Salt Water
Freshwater anglers can use a current reel for occasional inshore trips, but saltwater exposure changes the maintenance routine and can justify a dedicated reel over time. Learn what corrosion affects, which reel features matter, and when a separate saltwater setup makes sense.
Read articleHow Do I Choose the Right Jig Weight for River Current?
A practical way to match jig weight to depth, flow, bottom contact, line, and presentation speed in moving water.
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